Snoop Lion has always been vocal about his support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, but has expressed doubts in the past about whether or not the hip-hop world would ever feel the same way.

With the name change apparently came a change of heart. The former D-O-double-G thinks it’s high time hip-hop opens its arms to everyone. Well, technically, Snoop probably always thinks it’s “high time.”

According to Snoop, hip-hop’s hesitance to accept openly gay rappers is rooted in a macho mindset. “I don’t have a problem with it. It’s the mentality of the rap generation,” Snoop told VH1 “Big Morning Buzz Live” host Carrie Keagan. “The mentality of the rap generation is masculine. Macho. We were brainwashed not to accept certain things.”

Just one look at Jason Collins — the first openly gay player in the NBA — puts that stereotype to rest. At 7-feet, 250 lbs., he makes my straight boyfriend look like more of a girl than I am.

As more people like Snoop, Jay Z, and Frank Ocean take strong stands in support of the LGBT community, we grow closer to the day when all hip-hop artists will feel comfortable expressing who they really are and embracing each other’s differences. “People are people, no matter what their preference is. And that’s what we have to understand as humans,” said Snoop. “We can’t dictate our lives off what somebody else loves or doesn’t love. You have to live your life for who you are and you have to respect other peoples’ decisions and give them their space.”

So when can we expect a change in the rap game? Snoop Cleo (his future, Miss Cleo-inspired alter-ego) says, “In the near future.”

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